Through the power of IMAX, Hubble enables movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings and to accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks...

Set against the wondrous backdrop of the sweeping Nile and the majestic Giza pyramids, this film takes you on an engaging journey through the Land of the Pharaohs. Mysteries of Egypt is showing one time only, on Monday, April 6, at noon, as part of the...

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Show Returns March 14, 2015
The magic is back in San Diego! The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center welcomes back Jason Latimer, the World Champion of Magic and judge on Syfy's Wizard Wars, to the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater for a special...

Film Opens Friday, March 27
Through visually stunning imagery, and in collaboration with leading space experts, Journey To Space showcases the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working on to take humans further into space than ever before...

Dive In to the Newest Giant Screen Adventure!
An extraordinary journey into the mysterious world of one of nature’s most awe-inspiring marine mammals, Humpback Whales takes audiences to Alaska, Hawaii and the Kingdom of Tonga for an immersive look at...

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: Step right up! CIRCUS: Science Under the Big Top is coming to San Diego!
Discover the science behind the spectacle while performing acrobatics in mid-air, learning the art of contortion and performing...

Stand back: We're doing science! Don't Try This at Home is a series of new live shows that explore science that's too messy, too noisy and too hair-raising to do at home! You can experience up to three different shows throughout the day, one show...

In conjunction with the Center for Ethics in Science and Technology, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center welcomes guests to encounter science from an ethical viewpoint. Held on select Wednesdays, from October through June, this ongoing series brings...

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. for a tour of the solar system narrated by the Fleet’s astronomer. Journey through the cosmos with us as we explore a new topic each month.
For optimal viewing, each show is limited to...

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Young Scientists is a hands-on preschool science program offered by the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. This program provides informal learning experiences that support and enhance exploration, create excitement and facilitate scientific...

Join us for the Tinkerers’ Club on Saturdays in the Tinkering Studio! Dream it, create it, and take it home!
Tinkerers are invited to learn new skills and make awesome take-home projects! Open to tinkerers of all ages (tinkerers 12 and under require an...

Come to the Tinkering Studio on Saturdays to participate in hands-on activities that allow for minds of all ages to be creative and innovative in a variety of topics. From catapults to rockets, families are welcome to join in our Saturday tinkering with...

The first Monday of every month, seniors 65 and better can enjoy the Science Center exhibits, a show in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater and a lecture on the quietest day of the month for only $8! No coupons or additional discounts are accepted. The Fleet'...

As a thank you to San Diego County residents, the Fleet offers Residents’ Free Tuesday on the first Tuesday of each month.
Free Gallery Admission
Free gallery admission applies to San Diego City and County residents and active-duty military. ID is...

Each month, a different local scientist, engineer or researcher will share their passion for what they do and provide information that will be useful in your classroom. We will focus on connecting the real science happening in San Diego with the Next...

See Cherished Films From our Archives At The Fleet’s 40th Anniversary Fan Favorite Film Festival!

Fleet Fans Have Spoken, the Results are In—Nine Favorite Films, One a Week, Twice a Day, Festival Runs Friday, July 5 through September 5 in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater! Celebrate the Summer of YOU!

June 17, 2013

Swimming polar bear.

Brad Ohlund, Director of Photography

A polar bear mother protects her two 7-month cubs in Svalbard, Norway.

Shooting in glacial waters.

Polar bears on a glacial iceberg.

Polar bear taking a break.

This herd of walruses cools themselves in the Rankin Inlet of Baffin Island, Canada.

A polar bear roams in search of its next meal in Churchill, Canada.

This polar bear skates on thin ice in Svalbard, Norway.

This polar bear mother is focused on protecting her two cubs from the dangers that surround them.

A story of this mother's love and struggle for survival.

This polar bear lays low in Churchill, Canada.

Glaciers like this one in Svalbard, Norway are melting at a rapid pace.

These mountains found in Coldfoot, Alaska have seen drastic changes over the years.

Photo: Shaun MacGillivray

This mother caribou nurtures and protects her newly born calf in Coldfoot, Alaska.

San Diego, CA—June 17, 2013—We often hear comments from our patrons that they wish this amazing adventure film or that exploration of the wild could be brought back again so they could share them with friends and family who may not have caught the original run. Now’s your chance! The powers-that-be at the Fleet decided to give the people what they want, so we sent out surveys, polled our Facebook friends, and are now ready with the results of the voting for the 40th Anniversary Fan Favorite Film Festival! Catch all your favorite IMAX® films this summer in the Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Giant Dome Theater at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, starting July 5!

We received 569 surveys that selected the top three favorites from a list of 16 possible films (plus write-ins). The top nine vote-earners will be featured in The Fleet’s 40th Anniversary Fan Favorite Film Festival. One film will play twice a day* each week, Friday through Thursday, from July 5 through September 5.

The films will screen in the following order: Hubble, Yellowstone, Dolphins, Adventures in Wild California, Mysteries of Egypt, Everest, Coral Reef Adventure, Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West, and Grand Canyon Adventure. We will also be showing current IMAX favorites Flight of the Butterfliesand To the Arcticthis summer, in addition to the planetarium showCosmic Collisionsand Rocky Mountain Express.

We can also share our summer/early fall schedule for IMAX en Español, the third Sunday of each month at 4PM.: July 21 will launch into space with Hubble; August 18 takes you along with Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West; and September 14 introduces you to the adorable polar bear family in To the Arctic.

Film descriptions:

July 5—Hubble. This film features stunning imagery of distant galaxies, the birth of stars and planets, plus NASA's last mission to service one of history's most important observatories.

July 12—Yellowstone. This film showcases the spectacular beauty, dramatic geothermal activity and wildlife unique to this region, from sunrise over the Grand Tetons to a trip inside Old Faithful.

July 19—Dolphins. Take the plunge with dolphins, from the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the wind-swept seas of Patagonia, in this Academy Award-nominated film.

July 26—Adventures in Wild California. Get wild in the Golden State with acrobatic snowboarders, affable otters, aerobatic skysurfers, adventurous botanists and adrenaline-pumping surfers.

August 1—Mysteries of Egypt. Set against the wondrous backdrop of the sweeping Nile and the majestic Giza pyramids, this film takes you on an engaging journey through the Land of the Pharaohs.

August 9—Everest.The dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy on the world’s highest mountain.

August 16—Coral Reef Adventure. Soar over the volcanic peaks of Tahiti, dive 350 feet to explore deep corals off the shore of Fiji and swim among hundreds of sharks in the canyons of the Rangiroa atoll.

August 23—Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West. The journey that shaped a nation is re-created in this film, which depicts the great hardships and incredible scenery the explorers encountered.

August 30—Grand Canyon Adventure. Travel deep into the Grand Canyon on a 15-day river-rafting trip. Your pulse will quicken as you join this thrilling ride downriver through raging rapids and breathtaking canyons.

This film festival schedule guarantees lots of reel changes for the projectionists—and a chance to catch up on a film or two that you may have missed! Regular pricing for festival films will apply, but we’re exploring offering voucher packs for multiple festival films and a potential discount on add-ons for festival films only.

*In some cases, for instance, if we close early for a special event, a film may play only once during the day.

The 40th Anniversary Fan Favorite Film Festival runs from July 5 through September 5, 2013. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Heikoff Giant Dome Theater is located at 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. Giant Dome Theater show admission (1 film + access to all exhibit galleries): Adults $15.75; Children $12.75; Seniors $12.75. The Fleet’s summer hours will be 10AM–6PM daily. Between now and July 5, normal hours are Monday–Thursday 10AM–5PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM–7PM and Sunday 10AM–6PM. For information on tickets and showtimes, call (619) 238-1233 or visit our website at http://www.rhfleet.org/shows.

Here are more details of what to expect in July in the Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Giant Dome Theater at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center:

For a Full Schedule of Giant Dome Theater Shows and Timeshttp://www.rhfleet.org/shows

Planetarium Shows:

Cosmic Collisions––a spectacular immersive theater experience, narrated by award-winning actor, director and producer Robert Redford. Featuring stunning images from space and breathtaking visualizations based on cutting-edge scientific data—revealing the unimaginable, explosive encounters that shaped our solar system, changed the course of life on Earth and continue to transform our galaxy and dynamic universe.

JULY 3—The Sky Tonight: To Boldly Go! Exploration of the Solar System––For decades, humans have explored the solar system with manned and unmanned spacecraft. From stepping foot on the Moon to flying through the rings of Saturn, our spacecraft have boldly explored the solar system. In this month of Comic-Con and the 44th anniversary of the first moon landing, join us to celebrate the exploration of space. Our popular monthly live planetarium show of the sky in SD that night reaches a new level of stunning full-color visuals and incredibly realistic simulations of cosmic phenomena with our new state-of-the-art digital GSX™ projection system. A professional astronomer leads backyard stargazers through the universe. Weather and operational requirement permitting, the SD County Astronomy Association provides free telescope viewing outdoors on the Prado in Balboa Park. This is a separate event held on the first Wednesday of each month. 7PM & 8:15PM; $12 for nonmembers; $10 for members

IMAX Films:

Rocky Mountain Express—All aboard for the ultimate in adventurous railway travel. Rocky Mountain Express propels audiences on a steam train journey through the breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies and highlights the adventure of building a nearly impossible transcontinental railway. Spectacular IMAX aerial cinematography, archival photographs and maps, and the potent energy and rhythms of a live steam locomotive immerse audiences in this remarkable story form the age of steam. Rocky Mountain Express received top honors for Best Film in a first-ever tie with To the Arctic and was awarded Best Film Short Subject and Best Cinematography by the Giant Screen Cinema Association at their 2012 annual conference.

Flight of the Butterflies—The iconic monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature. It weighs less than a penny, yet it makes one of the longest migrations on Earth across a continent, with pinpoint navigational accuracy, to a secluded place it has never been. In Flight of the Butterflies, you’ll join the monarchs' perilous and extraordinary journey while following an intrepid scientist’s 40-year search to find the monarchs’ secret hideaway. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, an award-winning production team, a true scientific mystery, and hundreds of millions of real butterflies, Flight of the Butterflies soars on the giant IMAX Dome screen.

To The Arctic—Take an extraordinary, never-before-experienced journey to the top of the world, and experience the ultimate tale of survival. Follow the lives of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month-old cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home. This is a captivating, adventurous and intimate view of their struggle to survive in a frigid environment of melting ice, immense glaciers, spectacular waterfalls and majestic snow-bound peaks. Narrated by two-time Academy Award®-winner Meryl Streep.

Film-Related Events:

JULY 1—Senior Monday lecture by JPL/NASA Solar Ambassador Jerry Hillburn on “Juno Mission to Jupiter” + planetarium show Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity. A NASA New Frontiers mission, the spacecraft is to be placed in a polar orbit to study the planet's composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere. It will search for clues about how Jupiter formed and study Jupiter's deep 384 mph winds. Hilburn is an active member in the SDAA and parent of two budding scientists––the most important message we can send is that there is great opportunity in the future of space exploration, and to prepare now. The first Monday of the month, seniors 65+ enjoy the Science Center exhibits, a lecture and a Giant Dome Theater show at a discount! 12:30PM lecture; 2PM theater show; $7-

JULY 22—IMAX en Español––Hubble. Stunning imagery of distant galaxies, the birth of stars and planets, plus NASA's last mission to service one of history's most important observatories. IMAX en Español is an opportunity for you and your family to enjoy IMAX films in Spanish. Additionally, headsets are always available free of charge for audiences to listen to available Spanish soundtracks when films with English soundtracks play. Admission includes one film and the Fleet’s exhibit galleries, which feature more than 100 hands-on exhibits for all ages. Many of our exhibits feature bilingual explanatory text. 4PM. $15.75/adults $12.75/children

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Celebrate the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s 40th Anniversary Year!

Forty years ago, a spark ignited our imaginations! March 9, 2013, kicked off a year-long celebration of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and its 40 years of success in bringing hands-on science to our San Diego community. Forty years ago, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center opened its doors and brought interactive exhibits and the world’s first IMAX® Dome Theater to San Diego. Today, the Fleet inspires minds and connects individuals to science and technology through more than 100 “do touch” exhibits for all ages and amazing IMAX films and planetarium shows in the recently renovated Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. Enjoy our year-long celebration, featuring a blockbuster exhibition, incredible events and dynamic educational experiences.

If you would like complimentary tickets to see any IMAX film or Digital show or visit the exhibitions, please contact Susan Chicoine directly at schicoine@rhfleet.org/619 685-5743/619 325-9416. Let me know what date and how many, and I will leave passes for you at the will call window.

If you would like complimentary tickets to see any IMAX film or Digital show or visit the exhibitions, please contact Susan Chicoine directly at schicoine@rhfleet.org/619 685-5743/619 325-9416. Let me know what date and how many, and I will leave passes for you at the will call window.

If you would like complimentary tickets to see any IMAX film or Digital show or visit the exhibitions, please contact Susan Chicoine directly at schicoine@rhfleet.org/619 685-5743/619 325-9416. Let me know what date and how many, and I will leave passes for you at the will call window.

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About the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (the Fleet) is home to Southern California's only Giant Dome Theater and 100+ hands-on science exhibits for all ages. Watch immersive giant-screen films in the Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, which reopened in 2012 after extensive renovations. Our theater is extraordinary in many ways. It is the world's first IMAX® Dome Theater, the world's first NanoSeam™ Dome screen in an IMAX theater, and it offers two unique experiences in one space: IMAX films and planetarium shows. The Heikoff Giant Dome Theater boasts a 76-foot tilted Dome screen and a 16,000-watt digital surround sound system, providing a stunning visual and audio experience. Experience eight galleries of fun, interactive exhibits, including major traveling exhibitions. A hurricane simulator thrills visitors with gusts of wind up to 80 miles per hour. Enjoy sandwiches, salads and healthy treats in Galileo's Café. Find unique educational toys and games, books, IMAX DVDs and more in the North Star Science Store. Located at 1875 El Prado, two blocks south of the San Diego Zoo on Park Blvd., the Fleet Science Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the public understanding and enjoyment of science and technology. For information regarding current admission prices, please call (619) 238-1233 or visit our website at www.rhfleet.org.